Local News

Through the electric whir of power tools and a cloud of sweet smelling sawdust, Ronnie Smith is hard at work on an unusually hot February day.

With his sleeves unbuttoned and a drop of sweat running down his forehead, he cuts a piece of wood using a table saw. That piece of wood will eventually end up as a toy, one of thousands he’s made over the years.

The Dominican Sisters of Peace’s Just Peace Action Group will be hosting a vigil for Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) participants, also known as “Dreamers.”

DACA gives temporary protection to immigrants who were brought into the county illegally as children. There will be no prayers or speeches, but participants are still encouraged to talk to one another and wave to passing vehicles.

The vigil will take place tomorrow, Feb. 22, at 4:30 p.m. at the St. Catharine Motherhouse.

James “Danny” Crouch has been the E-911 Dispatch Captain since July 2017, and now he’s hoping to raise awareness about what’s going on in the community through the power of social media.

“There were a couple of wrecks (over the weekend,)” he said. “There were a couple of people that had some injuries.”

And that’s what made him want to inform others of what they need to expect when they dial 911, and to alert others of dangerous conditions. He said using Facebook is an opportunity to educate the public.

The Washington County Post Office will be returning 463 pieces of stolen mail to the rightful owners after an arrest was made last week. According to the Marion County Sheriff’s Office, Dennis Ray Singletary Jr., 47, of Springfield, was arrested Friday and charged with theft of mail matters.

Washington County native Chad Newby says he’s always had a desire to help others. Now, as an executive director of operations for ResCare Residential Services, Newby is in a position where he can provide assistance to a population in need.

Newby, who now works in Louisville, grew up in Springfield and graduated from Washington County High School before attending St. Catharine College. Throughout that time, he credits basketball for helping provide an outlet.

On Jan. 22, a Springfield quartet shared the stage with a 14-time Grammy Award winner in a live performance that was broadcast on more than 500 radio stations around the world to places as far away as Sydney, Australia, and Seoul, South Korea. An impressive feat when three of the band’s performers have an average age of about 14.

A long layoff for the Commanders after their loss in the finals of the All ‘A’ Classic provided some time for the team to reset themselves ahead of the final stretch of their regular season schedule. Over the last week, Washington County picked up one decisive win 64-53 against Cumberland County and another against district foe Thomas Nelson. Bookending those wins are a 9-point loss to Campbellsville and a 5-point loss to Henry County.